Wind powered device

ABSTRACT

There is described a wind powered device including a vertical support, a horizontal support rotatably attached to the vertical support, and planar elements respectively attached to opposite ends of the horizontal support by articulating hinge elements. The articulating hinge elements are connected to ones of the planar elements at respective positions that are horizontally offset from the center of each planar element, and each hinge element can rotate through a predetermined maximum throw angle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/387,157 filed Dec. 23, 2015 the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Exemplary embodiments of the present application include a device configured to apply changes in torque (force through a distance) on a rotational axis through the forces from a flow of fluid, such as by wind. The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure and is neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

One or more exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are generally related to a device powered by a flow of a fluid such as wind; the device includes a central vertical support, a horizontal support rotatably attached to the vertical support, and planar elements respectively attached to opposite ends of the horizontal support by articulating hinge elements, wherein the articulating hinge elements are connected to the planar elements at a position that is horizontally offset from the center of each planar element and each hinge element can articulate a predetermined maximum throw angle.

According to embodiments, a total throw angle is between 5 and 80 degrees, and wind causes at least one of the planar elements to rotate to the maximum throw angle in a rotation direction such that the at least one planar element is prevented from further rotation in the rotation direction whereupon the wind applies a torque to the at least one planar element.

According to embodiments, there is provided a second horizontal support rotatably attached to the vertical support, and there are planar elements respectively attached to opposite ends of the second horizontal support by articulating hinge elements, and the first horizontal support rotates in a direction opposite to the direction of rotations of the second horizontal support.

Exemplary embodiments of the present application are predicated on changes in torque (force through a distance) on a rotational axis through the forces from a flow of fluid, such as by wind. As noted above, each hinge is connected to the respective planar element at a position horizontally offset from the center of the planar element. The offset location is anywhere from the leading edge of the planar element to about 30% to the planar element's horizontal center. The “correct” “throw” of the hinge is preferably anywhere below plus and minus about 80 degrees with plus and minus 30 degrees being the setting for the preferred embodiment, with 0 degrees corresponding to a position at which the planar element is perpendicular to the support. As the angles of the flat surfaces change with the constant direction of the wind, the net forces around the rotational plan result in rotational motion due to the torque applied by the wind.

It is possible to change “pitch” of the rotating planar elements for either clockwise or counterclockwise motion as seen it the embodiments. Also, the device can include multiple horizontal supports, with opposing planar elements, which can rotate in opposite directions by shifting the offset of the planar elements on one support in a direction opposite to the offset in the other support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of the device at a first time according to exemplary embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration of the device at a second time according to exemplary embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration of the device at a third time according to exemplary embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration of the device at a fourth time according to exemplary embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration of the device at a fifth time according to exemplary embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration of another embodiment of the device at the second time according to exemplary embodiments of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-5 show a sequential operation of exemplary embodiments, and FIG. 6 illustrates alternative embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a device 100 according to exemplary embodiments of the present application. FIG. 1 illustrates a vertical shaft 10 (such as a central support shaft), horizontal supports 20 (which may be singular or plural support(s)), and hinges 41, 42 (such as articulating/rotating hinges).

FIG. 1 illustrates positions “A”, “B”, “C” and “D” to describe rotation of exemplary embodiments. FIG. 1 also illustrates a direction “W” in which a fluid may be flowing, such as a direction in which wind is blowing.

Although the description of exemplary embodiments throughout FIGS. 1-5 may describe a rotation of elements of the device 100 in a counter-clockwise direction, sequentially from positions “A” to “B” to “C” to “D” to “A” and so on, please note that embodiments may be modified to include reversed rotation or changed “pitch,” in a similar manner as with an aircraft propeller, to spin in a clockwise direction.

FIG. 1 illustrates that a planar element 31, at about the position “A”. The planar element 31 may be a flat plane and is illustrated as a calico cat for example. As the wind pushes against a surface (such as a flat surface) of the planar element 31, a force is applied to a back side towards a tail edge 31 b of the planer element 31 in relation to the hinge 41. Increased force caused by torque (force through a distance) from the leading edge 31 a of the planar element 31 in relation to the tail edge 31 b causes the planar element 31 to move the horizontal support 20 counter-clockwise, from position “A” towards position “B”, around the vertical shaft 10. In this manner, the planar element 31 has rotated to its maximum “throw” angle, against the hinge 41, such that any force applied on the planar element 31 by the wind is transferred to the horizontal support 20 and causes the rotation.

Further, at the position “C” illustrated in FIG. 1, the wind pushes a surface of the planar element 32, which may be a flat plane and is illustrated as a tiger cat, away from the wind such that a back side of the planar element 32 is angled in a manner that the wind also pushes the surface to turn the device 100 counter-clockwise.

FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary embodiments in which elements of the device 100 have rotated from the positions illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the planar element 31 has moved counter-clockwise to a position in between positions “A” and “B,” and the planar element 32 has moved counter-clockwise to a position in between positions “C” and “D”. In FIG. 2, the planar element 31 is still receiving force from the wind in the direction W and is pushed further counter-clockwise around the vertical shaft 10. The force of the wind in direction W has caused the planar element 32 to swivel on its hinge 42 to face and “vane” into the direction W of the wind. The vaning forces on the planar element 32 are much less than the forces on the planar element 31 in the exemplary embodiments of FIG. 2. The unequal torque forces on the horizontal support 20 between the planar element 31 and the planar element 32 causes the planar element 31 to turn counter-clockwise, without further rotating about the hinge 41, while the planar element 32 vanes with less opposing force into the wind and continue to move forward into the wind about the hinge 42.

FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary embodiments in which elements of the device 100 have rotated from the positions illustrated in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, the planar element 32 has moved counter-clockwise to a position in between positions “D” and “A”, and the planar element 31 has moved counter-clockwise to a position in between positions “B” and “C”. Because the wind has forced the back of the planar element 31 though the swiveling hinge 41 away from the wind, the planar element 31 continues to develop torque and is moved counter-clockwise. The planar element 32 has swiveled on its hinge 42 by the wind's force to offer less opposing force than the forces on the planar element 31 such that the motion of the elements of the device 100 continues counter-clockwise.

FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary embodiments in which elements of the device 100 have rotated from the positions illustrated in FIG. 3. As the elements of the device 100 continue to travel counter-clockwise from the illustrations in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 illustrates that the planar element 32 is in a position between the positions “A” and “B,” and the planar element 31 is in a position between the positions “C” and “D”. In a similar fashion as in FIG. 1, the planar element 32 receives more force through the wind than the now “vaning” planar element 31 as the elements of the device continue to turn counter-clockwise. The hinge 42 on the planar element 32 has swiveled to its maximum “throw” position and results in a large rear surface area towards the tail edge 32 b in which the torque from the wind pushes the horizontal support 20 while the hinge 41 on the planar element 31 swivels so the flat planar element 31 naturally vanes into the wind and receives less opposing force, thereby allowing the elements of the device 100 to continue to turn counter-clockwise.

FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary embodiments in which elements of the device 100 have rotated from the positions illustrated in FIG. 4. As the elements of the device 100 continue to turn counter-clockwise from the positions illustrated in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 illustrates that the planar element 32 has rotated to a position between positions “B” and “C” and the planar element 31 has rotated to a position between the positions “D” and “A.” As the planar element 32 continues to turn around the vertical shaft 10 from the position in FIG. 4 to that in FIG. 5, the wind forces the planar element 32 to swivel on its 42 from one side of the hinge stop to the other. This change in angle of the planar element 32 in relation to the opposing arm applies more force to the side of the planar element 32 opposed to the wind, and the planar element 32 continues to be pushed on by the wind and moves the device 100 in a counter-clockwise rotation about the vertical shaft 10. As rotation continues from the positions illustrated in FIG. 5, the elements of the device 100 cyclically return to the positions illustrated in FIG. 1, and according to exemplary embodiments, the elements of the device 100 will continue to rotate as the wind forces continue.

According to exemplary embodiments, the hinge 41 is connected to the planar element 31 at a position unevenly offset from a center along a longitudinal direction of the planar element 31 in a direction from the tail edge 31 b towards the leading edge 31 a. Similarly, the hinge 42 is connected to the planar element 32 at a position unevenly offset from a center along a longitudinal direction of the planar element 32 in a direction from the tail edge 32 b towards the leading edge 32 a. The offset of the hinges 41 and 42 is anywhere from respective leading edges 31 a and 32 a of the planar elements 31 and 32 to about 30% to the planar elements' 31 and 32 horizontal centers. The “correct” “throw” of the hinge is preferably anywhere below plus and minus about 80 degrees with plus and minus 30 degrees being the setting for the preferred embodiment, with 0 degrees corresponding to a position at which ones of the planar elements 31 and 32 are perpendicular to the horizontal support 20. As the angles of the flat surfaces of the planar elements 31 and 32 change with the constant direction W of the wind, the net forces around the rotational plan result in rotational motion of elements of the device 100 due to the torque applied by the wind.

According to exemplary embodiments, the device 100 can include multiple horizontal supports, with opposing planar elements, which can rotate in opposite directions by shifting the offset of the planar elements on one support in a direction opposite to the offset in the other support. Exemplary embodiments are discussed below with respect to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary embodiments in which elements 31 and 32 of a device 200 have rotated from the positions illustrated in FIG. 1 to those in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 also illustrates embodiments in which, in addition to the horizontal support 20 and its planar elements 31 and 32, another horizontal support 20 b, having planar elements 51 and 52 attached thereto by articulating hinges 61 and 62, is included in the device 200.

The arrangement of hinges 61, 62, planar elements 51, 52 and the horizontal support 20 b mirrors the arrangement of hinges 41, 42, planar elements 31, 32 and the horizontal support 20, such that the wind W also exerts forces on the planar elements 51 and 52 to rotate the horizontal support 20 b clockwise, from A to D to C to B to A in this example, and opposite to the counter-clockwise rotation of horizontal support 20, as similarly discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-5.

The horizontal supports 20 and 20 b may be attached at respectively different heights along the vertical shaft 10 such that interference is not caused by opposite rotations of the horizontal supports 20 and 20 b and their planar elements 31, 32, 51 and 52.

Further, while this specification contains many features, the features should not all be construed as limitations on the scope of the disclosure or the appended claims. Certain features described in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

Although the drawings describe operations in a specific order and/or show specific arrangements of components, one should not interpret that such specific order and/or arrangements are limited, or that all the operations performed and the components disclosed are needed to obtain a desired result. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A wind powered device, comprising: a vertical support; a horizontal support rotatably attached to the vertical support; and planar elements respectively attached to opposite ends of the horizontal support by articulating hinge elements, wherein the articulating hinge elements are connected to ones of the planar elements at respective positions that are horizontally offset from centers of each planar element, and each hinge element is configured to rotate through a predetermined, maximum throw angle.
 2. The wind powered device of claim 1, wherein the throw angle is between 5 and 80 degrees.
 3. The wind powered device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the planar elements is configured to rotate, by interaction with wind, one of the hinge elements to the predetermined, maximum throw angle in a rotation direction such that the at least one planar elements is prevented from further rotation in the rotation direction whereupon the wind applies a torque to the at least one planar element causing rotation of the planar elements about the vertical support.
 4. The wind powered device of claim 3, further comprising: a second horizontal support rotatably attached to the vertical support; and second planar elements respectively attached to opposite ends of the second horizontal support by second articulating hinge elements, wherein the second articulating hinge elements are connected to ones of the second planar elements at respective positions that are horizontally offset from centers of each second planar elements, and each hinge element is configured to rotate through the predetermined, maximum throw angle relative to the second horizontal support.
 5. The wind powered device of claim 4, wherein at least one of the second planar elements is configured to rotate, by interaction with wind, one of the second hinge elements to the predetermined, maximum throw angle in a second rotation direction, opposite to the rotation direction, such that the at least one of the second planar elements is prevented from further rotation in the second rotation direction whereupon the wind applies a second torque to the at least one of the second planar elements thereby causing a second rotation of the second planar elements about the vertical support, the second rotation being opposite to the rotation of the planar elements about the vertical support.
 6. The wind powered device of claim 1, wherein the centers of each planar element are along a longitudinal direction of the planar elements.
 7. The wind powered device of claim 1, wherein the hinges are closer to leading edges of the planar elements than to tail edges of the planar elements, the leading edges and tail edges being opposite edges in longitudinal directions of the planar elements, and the leading edges lead into the rotation of the planar elements about the vertical support. 